Prince Harry's Memoir: A World Publishing Phenomenon

[MrsMaxDeWinter]

There will likely be several bashing threads on Harry's memoir before it is published, but I am interested in discussing with anyone who is interested in the very interesting marketing choices of the publishers and their approach.

English language editions of SPARE will be published on 10 January 2023 in EIGHT territories: the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Canada.

The book will also be published in translation in 15 additional languages:

SPANISH Plaza & Janés/Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial
GERMAN Penguin Verlag/Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe GmbH, PORTUGUESE BRAZIL Objetiva/Grupo Companhia das Letras
PORTUGUESE PORTUGAL Objectiva/Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, SIMPLIFIED CHINESE Penguin Random House China
DANISH Politikens Forlag
DUTCH Hollands Diep, an imprint of Overamstel
FINNISH Otava Publishing Company Ltd
FRENCH Éditions Fayard
GREEK Pedio Books
HUNGARIAN Corvina Kiadó
ITALIAN Mondadori,
POLISH Wydawnictwo Marginesy,
ROMANIAN Nemira Publishing House,
SWEDISH Albert Bonniers Förlag.

This is absolutely sensational as it means it will be simultaneously published in 23 territories on the same day.

There are not many books where simultaneous release occurs in different markets. From this, I would say that the book will more than earn its advance, just from the foreign sales alone.

They also chose a banger of a title as it puts focus on the troubling notion of the Spare in a system based on primogeniture, and one that imbues both intrinsic and extrinsic value based on a person's birth order.

Imagine growing up knowing that no matter how loved you may be, your constitutional role is ultimately to be the spare to the heir.

Can't wait to read it!

Have you seen the contract? This would be no standard book release contract, but if you have seen it, then ok.

He doesn’t speak any languages so won’t be appearing on any European chat shows either.

He will appear on chat shows, Europeans are incredibly generous about hosting English speakers, especially the Dutch and the Germans. More importantly, he will be a hit at just about every European literary festival going.

There will also be chances of various one on one events outside chat shows and festivals. You don't spent millions on a book and leave it to chance. He is will be fine.

In the UK, I suspect he will do Southbank, Hay, Cheltenham and Edinburgh as part of a tailored book tour. Edinburgh is my favourite festival because every author, no matter who, is paid 250 pounds as an appearance fee. Very egalitarian!

most authors like to interact with audiences hence the tours and increased sales.

michelle Obama is doing a US tour, and Harry would love her sales numbers.

i guess the publishers don’t want anyone asking Harry question as he’s probably going to struggle to answer them and as the RF isn’t going to pay for his security he’s cost a fortune to transport around, and he’s not going to pay

He’s upto a few giggles on his mate James Corden’s show, perhaps they can moan together about staff not being happy to be shouted at -
but a q&a with a moderator 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I doubt he will go around the UK in full fanfare. Just. Imagine. 🫣

I honestly cannot imagine Harry doing the book festivals -for 2 reasons - the unpredictability of any questions and also , he doesn’t feel safe in the U.K. so can you imagine the security detail required . I go to Edinburgh Book Festival every year and it is always packed so I am not sure it work .

@MrsMaxDeWinter

he has a huge security entourage, which is massively expensive, they’re not going to pay for that
when PH travelled to Germany for his invictus launch, none of the German broadsheets or foreign correspondents of other broadsheets
traveled to the launch. He’s not that interesting to people. The only one who travelled was the German hello styled one

he will be doing video links from his matching thrones in the office which Meghan doing hilariously amusing japes in the background.

i love literary festivals, but he’s not going to be able to answer detailed questions, and I do enjoy round table themed discussions, he’s not going to be able to join one of those without embarrassing himself

it will be video links from the throne in montecito

I know it gives you a great kick to believe that Harry is really thick, but he comes across well in interviews. You post a lot about what you perceive to be his stupidity. Perhaps there are people who find these posts funny but they make you appear unpleasant. It's a shame because some of your insights are interesting.

And we can all, no matter our level of intelligence, talk coherently about our own lives, so I can't imagine why you think he would be the exception.

I know many delightful and charming adults who were not academic, and who I would never judge, so I guess our worlds and our values are different.

Good point about the security, it would be a nightmare, especially for UK festivals.

Is that twice we have agreed @MrsMaxDeWinter ??

So agree with this post

Harry and Meghan were unable to keep their story straight on a sympathetic interview with Oprah Winfrey, so I don’t find it a leap to wonder would he struggle on a more probing interview.

Talking about never going on bicycles,
despite photos, changing mental health stories (who encouraged him to seek help and when he did it), I can imagine he would struggle when presented with contradictory tales and all the prep work can only do so much

MrsMaxdeWinter

Because what you say that you particularly like sounded as if you wouldn't be as interested in Angela Rayner.

Ditto with memoirs/autobiographies, you have a singular preference. I feel like saying that there have been inspiring autobiographies written by UK politicians who were born, in hardship, before/during/ just after the war. These are uplifting - notwithstanding the fact that the subjects of them did not contend with racial prejudice, but, instead, with some of the other subtle and direct prejudices which many have faced. Let's be open to viewing adversity as universal and a trial which which presents itself in a myriad of forms and guises.

My comments are about him not being to keep all the varying tall tales straight when faced with probing questions , not that he’s too stupid to speak.
please stop putting words in my mouth.

He is clearly still struggling mentally so you have to be understanding. He doesn't come across fully clear of mind and he doesn't come across great on interviews either. I don't know if it is a lack of certain preparation that he needs, the unavoidable direct comparison with her wife bearing a pro at acting anything out, or what. But he does not sell well, nearly as well as his wife.

And they know it. They have tried to keep him relevant with the drop bys to say hi in Meghan's pieces but this is gone now as just exacerbates the image.

I'm sure he can speak well about his own life in controlled situations but he may not be so up for answering difficult questions, especially when there are likely to be doubts expressed about the veracity of what's in the book. I haven't seen him respond in person to any of the questions raised about his revelations so far - has he done that happily?

Someone upthread suggested that Harry's book cover draws a connection to his time in the army but I think the Sussex' PR also hoped that it comes across in zelesky style 😂. Remember the threads on here where mumsnetters drooled over Zelensky in his tight brown army t-shirt?

I hope it isn't as boring as the last one that came out that went in the bin half way through.

Well he would not be able to respond to many of the follow up questions, especially when some of the revelations were "Ma' daddy cut me off". He was, and still taking so many things for granted. So entitled, not understanding the system, and to the OP's point, he seems to be the one that thought was appointed by "god" and entitled to whatever with no consequences or responsibilities. We have enough managing a legacy system, so good he is out. One less to fund.

I'm shocked that he's doing this, it's such a betrayal.

With all this hype and excitement...it's got to be full of bombshells, this will end all his family relationships.

He’s entitled to write a book, but we’re entitled to ask questions about ‘his truth’ in it.

Some posters will come from a place that it’s all truth, some of us will be more skeptical.

the only way he will continue to make money is by teasing truths and not delivering ‘yet’ and promising more until biography no 17 hits the shelves in 2050 🤣

High risk strategy and even then relying on a certain audience. Wouldn't be surprised if he eventually went back into the fold in exchange for being maintained and being able to pay his luxuries.

MrsMaxdeWinter didn’t actually put words in your mouth.

I read your opinion of Harry in much the same way MrsMaxdeWinter did. It came across as if you were saying he was stupid.

He’s not, and obviously from what you’ve said here it’s not what you meant. But that was not at all obvious in your previous post.

MrsMax, I agree with you that there should be consistency in how King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry are treated as to airing dirty linen in public. I don't think the Glenconner lady is in the same category as she is not royal although I am sure there are some who were not happy with her autobiography (I read it and found it very interesting) describing her marriage nor her recent articles.
I think there is an issue for some of us in Harry saying he is leaving the royals and then wantint to cash in on being royal. That does not sit well with many people. He could have bought a small house in the countryside and done some kind of army role which is UK based until retirement for example.